CCM Lighting Design student shines bright
Rachael Blackwell is one of two recipients of the prestigious Hemsley Lighting Programs Internship
UC College-Conservatory of Music Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design & Technology student Rachael Blackwell is the first CCM student to receive an internship through Hemsley Lighting Programs, Inc.’s Annual Hemsley Internship Program. After her graduation this spring, Blackwell will work with one or more top-tier professional arts organizations, including the likes of New York City Ballet, San Francisco Opera and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. Blackwell expects to collaborate with lighting designer Paul Miller at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, if all goes as planned.
Rachael Blackwell. Photo/Provided
“This internship has many benefits, including the opportunity to connect and network with past interns, all of whom are now successfully working across the many different avenues of lighting, including theatre, dance, opera, musical theatre, television and film!” Blackwell says.
“I'm excited about being a Hemsley intern because this is one of the few organizations available to young artists like myself that serves as a bridge between your college graduation and going straight to somewhere like Broadway.”
Only two interns are selected each year, and because the internship may extend from the summer into February, only those who have graduated or are not currently attending school are eligible. In addition to funding for travel expenses, interns with Hemsley Lighting Programs also receive a $2,750 monthly stipend.
CCM audiences will remember Blackwell’s lighting design work from Lady Windermere’s Fan, the 2019 Dance Student Choreographer’s Showcase, Birthday Variations, Ariodante, and the 2018 Opera d’Arte production of Trouble in Tahiti.
“Each show is memorable to me for different reasons, but I'd have to say the dance shows were my favorite," Blackwell says. "Because I can't dance, I've always had a special admiration and respect for those who can, so designing for dance is always fun for me! That being said, it was really nice to be able to design a year of opera, a year of dance and end with a straight play. I think being able to study a few different avenues of lighting in depth really helped me understand the mechanics and formula of designing for each."
Before coming to CCM, Blackwell earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in technical theatre from Alabama State University. She has worked with the Cincinnati Ballet, Yale Repertory Theatre, Alley Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Montgomery Ballet, among others. After graduation, Blackwell plans to do freelance lighting design work and travel the world with touring productions.
About Hemsley Lighting Programs, Inc.
Hemsley Lighting Programs, Inc. was originally established in 1983 as the Gilbert V. Hemsley, Jr. Internship in Lighting in honor of this unique and much beloved man. He was responsible for the launching of so many careers in theater that when the idea for the internship was suggested, the outpouring of both good will and financial support created the framework upon which the program was formed and has been sustained. The internship has provided a singular opportunity for one very fortunate student every year since 1984 and it has continued to steadily expand. Initially, it provided an opportunity for a graduating lighting student to participate in a six-month program centered on the intense repertory lighting work of the New York City Opera. Currently, the internship has grown into a nine-month program adding the winter season of New York City Ballet and full participation in the Lincoln Center Festival. In 2004, a first-ever national portfolio review for graduating lighting students was added to the internship’s ongoing initiatives and in recognition of the organization’s expanding scope, the corporation was renamed Hemsley Lighting Programs. The new portfolio review has allowed graduate work to be seen and evaluated by some of the foremost lighting, scenic and costume designers, theater directors and choreographers currently working in the business, with the goal of providing well-rounded feedback and helping to bridge the often intimidating divide between the educational and professional worlds.
Story by CCM Graduate Student Alexandra Doyle
Featured image at the top: Rachael Blackwell. Photo/Provided
Related Stories
On track: Hoffman Honors Scholar studies public transit
April 2, 2026
Public transit is where Zane Sawyer’s lifelong passion for travel meets his commitment to making an impact. The University of Cincinnati first-year geography major in the College of Arts & Sciences and member of the second cohort of Hoffman Honors Scholars (HHS) has hit the ground running, designing a research project intended to capture both how public transit works and how its users perceive it.
UC names Suzanne Judd, PhD, as inaugural director of new Center for Public Health
April 2, 2026
Following an extensive national search, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine has appointed Suzanne E. Judd, PhD, as the inaugural director of its newly established Center for Public Health. Judd, a renowned epidemiologist and interdisciplinary scholar, will lead the center’s mission to transform community health through innovative research, education and strategic advocacy.
UC Digital Futures and Cincinnati Fire Museum launch educational video game
April 1, 2026
A new collaboration between the University of Cincinnati's Digital Performance Lab (DP Lab), CCM Acting, UC's School of Information Technology, and the Cincinnati Fire Museum is using gaming technology to bring essential fire safety education to children. The project titled Fire Escape is an interactive video game designed to teach K-12 students how to respond safely during a house fire. It was developed through Digital Futures research support, student game development, and guidance from local fire safety professionals.